I’ve been bullish on Duck Camp since I first met the team shortly after they launched. They’re simply good people who understand that great hunting clothing has to do two things equally well: perform in the field and look good everywhere else. Their camouflage patterns have become some of the best in the business, and each season their collection feels a little more refined than the last.
Their newest release, the Canvas Brush Wingshooting Jacket, immediately caught my attention. It’s a medium-weight, unlined canvas jacket that lands somewhere between a classic chore coat and a denim jacket, arguably one of the most useful categories of outerwear a guy can own. The large lower patch pockets swallow gloves, dog leads, or whatever else you end up carrying, while the chest pockets keep smaller essentials within easy reach. There’s also a small upper pocket that’s perfect for a pen, sunglasses, a handkerchief, or simply keeping your phone out of the way.
What really sold me, though, is the length. The shorter cut is ideal for wingshooting because it stays clear of a shell bag and never bunches up when you’re walking or mounting a shotgun. It’s the kind of thoughtful design detail you only get from people who actually spend time in the field.
At $149, I think it’s one of the better values in the hunting space right now. Mine won’t be reserved strictly for bird season. It’ll see plenty of time bass fishing on cool mornings, layered over a flannel in the quail field, and riding behind the seat of my truck as that dependable “throw-it-on” jacket when the temperature drops.
I’ve always had a soft spot for canvas. Few fabrics age as gracefully. It softens, develops character, and tells the story of where it’s been. This jacket feels like the kind of piece that will only get better after a few seasons of hard use.
Here’s what it looks like fresh out of the box:
So here’s the thing: the canvas was exactly what you’d expect from a substantial, heavyweight jacket. It was pretty stiff. Not uncomfortably stiff, and certainly not a dealbreaker, but stiff enough that it hadn’t quite settled into itself yet. Like most new canvas jackets, it needed a little time before it would really drape the way I wanted. At first, it felt like the jacket was wearing me, rather than the other way around.
I’m not known for being particularly patient, so I decided to speed the process along a bit. I filled the upstairs bathtub with hot water and let the jacket soak for a few hours. My hope was to relax the fibers, soften the seams, and take a little of that brand-new rigidity out of the canvas. I wasn’t trying to make it look old; I just wanted it to feel like a jacket that had already seen a season or two in the field.
Hung it to dry…until it stopped dripping…
Then I wore it for a couple of hours. Very interesting weekend wear, but it worked.
I hung it to dry the rest of the way, and this is how I found it in the morning:
Result Highlights:
- The canvas was MUCH softer. It almost had a ‘fuzzy’ feel to it.
- The seams were MUCH looser. I’d say the drape is about 60-70% where I want it.
- The jacket shrank about 1/4 of a size. This worked perfectly for me, as the Large is a touch big.
- The color lightened slightly. This is fine. I wanted the ‘Pin Oak’ option (darker brown) because it would wear in a little better.
Overall, I feel like I found a cheat code. This bad boy is ready for Fall. And Winter. And Spring.
Looking forward to putting some miles on this one.
